Centrifugal drier.



A. R, SBLDEN. GENTRIFUGAL DRE APPLICATION FILED APR 12,1'5'1) l I l A.R.' SELDEN.

GENTRIPUGAL DRIBR.

APPLIGATIONTILEI APR. 17, 1911.

Patented May 7. 1912.

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MMF/L (J A. R. SELDEN GENTBIEUGAL DEU-ER. APELNATION ULEB APR.17,1911.

Patented May '7, 1912.

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A. R. SELDEN.

GENTRIPUGAL DRIER. APPLIUATION FILED APR.17,1911.

1,025,485. Patented May?, 1912.

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( nsmcmrg Y m f6. Spam A.. R. SELDEN GENTRIPUGAL DRIER,

APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1911.

1,025,485. v Patented May '2, 1912.

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ARTHUR R. SELDEN, 6F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

CENTRIFUG-AL DRIER.

[o au whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR R. Sanoma a citizen of the United States, andresident of Rochester, in the county of Monroeand State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrif` ugalDriers, of which the following is a specification.1 v K This inventionrelates to centrifugai drying machines of the type in which theinaterial to be separated orl dried may be introduced continuouslywithout interrupting the rotation of the machine, so als-to save the'time usually consumed in stopping, recharging and starting the machine.

One object lof the present invention is to produce a machine of the typein question in which the moving parts of the basket by which thematerial is` continuously discharged therefrom, are of simple and rigidconstruction and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide for t-heautoinaticclearingy of the fluidpassages or interstices in the foraminiferousdrums employed in connection with the basket, and a third object of theinvention is to provide'forthe eticient collection' and removal of thesolid material from the oasing of the machine.

Further objects of the invention, 'and/the-f features of constructionand operation by which these several objects are/attained, will be setforth in conneetionwith the following description` of the illustratedembodiment of thefnvention. n

In the accompanying. drawings Figure 1 is a plan-view of a centrifugalmachine embodying theA present invention, with parts removed to show theinterior.constllction; Fig. 2 is a side-,elevation oyf the vmachine ofFig. l, shown partly in se tion on the line 2 2 in the latterigure;V ig.3 is a planview, on a largerscale, offai-portion of the basket, a partofthe gure being in horizontal section; Fig. 4 is a vertical section, ona still larger scaleon `theline 4 4- in Figs. Sand v5; Fig. 5 isahorizontalsection on the line 5`-5'invFig. a; Fig. 6 is a detailviewvof one off the inclined gratings, seen vin adirectionfnorinaltovtliegupper surface of the gratingyFig; 7 'is asection-onthe line 7-x in Fig; 6, looking from right to left in thelatteitiigure; Fig. 8-is a`detail- View, showing' the connection betweencertain portions of Athestructure. illustrated in Fig. et, lookingdownward; and Fig, 9 is a Specification of Letters Patent. Applicationined April, 17,

Patented May 7, 1,912. 1911. semina. 621,715.

plan-view showing Vthe means for holding the worm against rotation.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a machine adapted`particularly for operating upon mixtures of liquid a'nd coml minutedsolid material, and operates to separate the liquid from the solidmaterial and to deliver the latter in a dry, oi substantially dry,condition.

The illustrated machine consists, broadly speaking, ina basket whichrotates about a vertical axis, and a casing which incloses the basketand acts as a receptacle for the material discharged therefrom. `Thisgeneral arrangement is common in machines of the kind in question. Thebasket is supported upon, and rotated by, a vertical shaft 11 which isprovided, at its upper end, with a pulley 12 through which it may beconnected with any suitable source of power. As shown particularly inFig. 2, the basket is provided with a frame-work comprising a centralportion or hub 13 which is keyed uponl the shaft 11. This huh carries ahorizontal circular base-plate 14; upon which a series of uprights 15are fixed. The upper ends of the uprights are connected by aring 16,which supports them against centrifugal action. The uprights are furthersupported 'and held in place byV means of bolts 17, of `which the upperand lower ends are provided with nuts engaging', respectively, the upperends of the uprights and theffgegiphery of the plate 14, and thesebolts, at their middle portions, bear against saddles 18 integral withthefuprights.

The material to be dried, when first fed into the basket, falls upon thecurvedupper surface ofthe hub'l, and is dischar ed thence, bycentrifugal action and gravity, upon a series of inclined `gratingswhich constitute the outer Vportion of the bottom of the basket. Each ofthese gratings, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, comprises al @ries of. roundmetal bars 19. lrhese bars are supported upon a frame-work comprisingside-members 21 and Vcross-in en'ibers 22 casi; .integral therewith. Thebars are. riveted uponthe cross-members, and. vare placed close.together so that there are no ap arent yopenings between them. -Owin-to t eminnte Iirregularitiesin the sur 'aces o-the of liquid, .althoughSeid materiel' 30 i I cate the'bearings of the drums,v and since iseifectually prevented from passingV between'the bars. The vgratingsaresupported upon bracket-shaped members-Qwvhich are. fixed to thebase-plate' 1,4.l .The centrifugal action causes the solid material toslideou't# .fwardly and upwardly upon the 'gratings i struction `isshown particularly in Figs. 4

and in this manner .into engagement With means hereinbefore brieflyreferred to,

vvwhichthe vsolid material is gradua-lly" trans ferred' to, andpermitted to Aescape from, .the

the material isbroug the transferring periphery of the basket. Thesemeans comprise a series of drums, of which 'the conand 5. The peripheryo1 each drum consists of bars 24, of prismatic orm,which are :ir-Iranged as the elements oi e, cylinder,r and are seated at-theirend's inannular grooves' in bars by means ci?v through-bo'ltsQ. Each' a block 28to which it is pinned,andthe two heads or end-plates 25.' The end-platesare drawn together and caused to clamp the drum is mounted to turnreelyupon-a shattl 27 The shaft is provided, at each end,-`With blocksaregseatedin slotsfin the uprights 15,` as shown in Figs. 2 and` 3. Theblocksare secured in place by means of A'Wedges 29 l n. level With theaxes of the drums.

dri-ven into .verticald openings in the up- ;rights, and thus theshaftsare'held against rotation. Since it is inconvenient to llubritheseare more or less moistened 'by uthe water or other hquld constitutingac'onstitu-` ent of the material to be separated, the

drums are providedv with bearmg'bushings 320i suitable niateriahsuch aswood impregnnted of which one removedin Fig. 1. This cover has ei hattop 36' with afwidecentral opening to receive the shaft l-l.

The material is fedinto the` machine through` two 'feed-chutes" 2i?whicl'i' are mounted in the cover and arranged4 to dis- 'charge thematerial. 'near' the center of the basketj as shown 1n Fig-*2. In orderythat 4the .li p1id and the solid constituents of the.

material1 may bc s'epurzltely 'collected in dif#V fercntparts of theensing,`the basket is pro-- vided with certain guides to catch 'anddirect tbesojconstituents respectively.` i lieneah cach drum',amlfoutsule olf tho-corre-. spending grat-ing, is .a curved,` guidemounted yon the'f buseuliite' lhfwliich 'acta tocntch the liquid .whichisfforeud through i the gratiugs'by' centrifugal :ie-thm, and thus-`After being arrested liquid;fn ll s into' 'the bottom oftheca'sing,1

by through an outletopening with, parallinor otherhsolid lubri cunt.these bearings being' seated 'in sleeves such liquid is-prevented fromengaging and .passingthroughthe drum. Fromthe outer extremitieslo theprojected, by. centri zontnlA direction'` againstthe inner surface ofthef lower portion i against this surface the and' is discharged 39.'Atithe juncture of each pair 'of drums a4 curved,".channel'shaped vguide41 'extends upwardly,'nclosing'the inner;` edges of' the heads 'of the"drums, and thus material from `passin betweent the drums.' end, tonneof the brackets 23,- and, at' 'its 'upper end,- to;the.u`prights 15. Thebais24 some extent'the sliding of theA material over the surfaceofrthedrum and also as rec'epf tacles for the collection of liquid. Thebars close todgether, but minute 'interstices' are provide preif'entedfrom so doing.

end-pieces 43 (Figs. y 'sleeve 44., .This'sleeve is mounted upon theymeans of a pin 46 passing throughthe shaft and the sleeve.

vclined plate y45@ actsto cate li interior of he Aand this liquid ytheplatelli, being discharged centri ugally from the lower-edge `of rumby'A centrifugal' action,

edge of th'e part 3 3 This 'topi-event thedicharge o f li faces' 47ofthe bars areso arrangedithgu. at

outwardly between 'the 'bars-by centrifugal 38 f of 'the casing.

42,and thesegrooves -actboth' to retard to' 5 between'the barsby'slightly roughenlngtheir contacting surfacesk in any con- I fWithineach ldrum is a' guide comprising' 4 and) connected bya shaft 27,being fixed against` rotation' by fof preventing e; endsofl Thisg-ui eis fixed', at lts lower 24, like the'rods of the ,grat1ng, are placedvement .1nenner, so'that'the'lquid can pass. between' the bars While thesolidlm'aterial is 4 At their'oute'r portions the enddnemb'ers I13 arevlyconnected an .in- The? guide just described 1 uid which is forced tothel .105, is directed downwardly this plate at 'a' pointsubstantially1below,v the upper' of the casing ,Fromfthefud' lower edgeof the plate 45 the liquid is discharged against the' bars of thedrum-which- 1'- are 'at the time inthe outermc'istvpositi'on`,v andtheliquid thenpasses reversely.betweeny these bars andthenceintothe'casing.

reverse flow of f theliquidbetween 'the hars hasftbel importantfadvantae that it'causos the liquid to wash out from etvveen the bars l anyminute 'particles of material which may havei lo dgedjin'the spacesbetween the bars and which wouldotherwise clog 4these spaces. Theprismatic form of the bar'sis employed uidA from the. 4upper portion ofthe drum, \v 1ereit'lnight .mingle i with [the solid, 'materialdischargedfrom vthe ljmslget. lheinclined inner sur-v Ath oiipperportion of the: drum-any liquid reef :mauung yon these surfaces isnot thrown" to assume an-inclination in which the liqvuid will be thrownupwardly Vand outwardly upon these surfaces. Atthis point, therefore aguide 48 Vis provided, the upper edge of'this guide being so locatedthat it will catch all liquid discharged from the drum through theaction just described. The lower edge vof the guide 48 extends below theupper edge of the lower portion 33 of the casing, so that the liquid,when discharged preferably used in duplicate,

from thelower edge of the guide, is caught by this portion of thecasing. Each guide 48 is provided witharms 49 by which it is fixed tothe upright 15, and the lower por tion of'the guideisconnected, by bentrods 51, witlrlugs on the uprights.

The drums are rotated outwardly upon the shafts27 by means which will bepresently described, so that the solid material resting upon theirsurfaces is gradually carried .upward and outward to points near thetops of the drums, where the centri ugal force overcomes the friction ofthe material a ainst the jdrumsand the material is thus t rownhorizontally frointhe drums.

The materialso` discharged 'strikes against the inncrfsurface vof thecoverpo'rtion 35 of the casing,- and then falls down into the annularchannel of'which the shelf or flange 34 constitutes the bot-tom. Toprovide for the constant' discharge of this solid material from themachine, one or more Scrapers 52 (Fig. 2) are mounted upon a ring 53,this ring being supported in horizontal-position at the top of themachine by engagement of its inner edge 'with a series of groovedrollers 54. The ring is rotated constantly by means of a raclr55 fixedto the upper surface of the ring-and engaged by pinions 56. Thesepinions aretixed on shafts 57 journaled in housings 66 iixed to the topof the casing, and the shafts are rotated by means of pulleys 58, bywhichthey are connected with' any suitable source or' power. The drivingmechanisms just described are but a single mechanism may be used for thesame purpose. By the rotation ofthe ring the scraper 52 .iscauscd totraverse the'inner surface of the cover such surface have adheredpushing the material. along theshelf 34 until it 'reaches one of aseries of peripheral outlets 61, -`throu h which the material isdischarged from t e casing into any suitable receptacle. A bell-shapedguard59 depends from the top Yofjhecasing to-protect the 35, thusscraping Afrom any solid material whichunay thereto and at the same timemechanism by which the scraper 52 is actu-W ated.

To produce or control the rotation of the drums, the following means areemployed. The drums are geared together nlpairs, as shown in Fig. 3, bymeans of miter-gears 65 formed on the heads 25. One drum of each pair isprovidedalso with a gear 66 on its opposite head, which meshes with oneof a -series of pinions 67, fixed en vertical shafts journaled insleeves 68 -iixed to the baseplate 14. At their lower ends these shaftsVcarry bevel-gears 69 which mesh with gears 70 (Fig. V2). Each gear 70 isfixed on a shaft 71 journaled in bearings depending from the base-plate,and at its inner end each shaft 7l carries a worm-gear 72;. Theworm-gears all mesh with a single worm 62, which is journaled looselyupon the shaft ll. To prevent the worm from rotating, while at the sametime permitting. free lateral movements of the worm witli the shaft,

the worm is provided with anarm 63 fixedV thereto, and the outer end ofthis arm is connected with a link 64, which is pivoted to a lug 65 uponthe inner surface ofthe casing. As the basket'rotates the worm-wheels 72are carriedaround the -wor-m, whilethe latter is fixed against rotation,and-thus the worm-wheels arer'otatedvand, through the gearing justdescribed, a constant slow upward and outward rotation is produced in-the drums, wherebythe solid material is carried upwardly and outwardlyas before described. Owing to the centrifugal action of the material incontact with the drums this rotation is assisted, so that the gearingmay operate rather as a retarding means to control the rotation thanas apositive means forv producing such rotation. i

The step-bearing for the basket is illus#y trated particularly in Fig.2. 'The upper end oit the shaft ll is supported, in the usual manner, ina bearing adapted to permit lateral movement of the lower4 portion ofthe shaft. To this end the shaft rotates in a sleeve 73, which has aspherical outer surface embraced in a bearing-member 74 ot'corresponding' form. The sleeve is prevented 'from rotating by means of.a screw 7 5 engaging a slot in the sleeve. The lower end of the shaft isfixed inrv av spherical bear-.-

ing-member 76, which is4 seatedginV arecess"V of correspondingYiornrin'fabearing-block 7 7. Relativerotation of these parts is pre-'-vented by a screw 8O engaging a slot in thebearing-member 76. The'bl'ock7-7 is fixed in a shoe V78, which `has a downwardly-convexsphericalsurface resting=in a concave seat-7 9 of corresponding form. This seat79 is mounted on 'the upper endof astem 8l, and this stem is -fheldinball-bearings of ordinary form. When the.' shaft and the basket rotate,all of the parts just described rotate together, there being no relativei used, when desirable, to dryT the solid matel 43a basket, which'tcndsvto produce a constant 60 fined in the-succeeding claiitis.

. 65A bination, a rotary basket provided with an 'movement of. rotationor revolution between ,them. -The rotation of the. seat 79 and itsiystemis produced by the'frictional engageyilinent of the shoe 7 8. In'case the center of lgravity ofthe basket is disturbed by a pre onderanceof material on one side or the other, the basketatonee assumes theposition in Whichl itcan rotate about its center ofgravity,thevnecessary movement being 10 permitted by the shoe ,78 and its seat 79,'L' owing to the fact that V'the shoe is free to move laterally. in theseat. This movement is limited', however, by a pin 82'on'the shoedepending into acorresponding recessin the unseat. Duringxthisadjusting'movement the' necessary angular movement ot' the shoe Juponthe shaft is permitted by the lball-andsock'et joint between theseparts.

In order that the present machine may be rialr passed'. therethroughmoref completely v than can be `done by centrifugalaction alone,

the machine is provided with :means for fl-subjecting' t-he'materialto ablast ofl hot air, or othergas" or vapor". To this end a vcircula-r pipe-83 is mounted Within the basket, .this ,pipe`-v being` provided withoutwardly? directed perforationsf and being supported andjf'fed .through'pipes 84 extending'up- -s0 Wardly throu h theftop of the casing. The.draft-f throng the` endet-openings `in th'epipe 83 impingcs upon thematerial on the surfaces of the druinsgVand this draft isassisted `bythe centrifugal action of the outward flowjot air' through the drums.The air and vapor finally -issue through the outlet-opening 61,or thedrainage-opening '39, whilea constant indraft-ofair occurs in 4'0 theopeliin'gin the cover through which the shaft enters.- By the use ofheated air, or "'.superheated steam, the. imiterial4 may .bedeliveredin'a dry, or substantially dry, con- .dit-ion. -J i 4 Myinvention is not liinitddto. the embodi nient thereof hercinbeforeldescribed and illustrated in the g1ccornpallyingf drawings, l butlmay'.be 'embodied in vaioushfdrms within the 'na-ture ofthe i'nven ion, asfit is de- -l` claim `\'\`A- 1. A centrifugal imlchineihavingg in com- 'bnaton, ay rotary basket provided with a rotatable transferring memberhaving a surface against which the material 'inf the basket ish'eldbycentrifugal torce when 'the basket is rotated, said. surface beingmfvable, while the basket rotates, iirst upward y l and then-outwardl-yso as to transfer contents" of the basket from the interior the pmipherythereof, and mechanism for rotating the' basket and, for controlling themovement ofthe transferringr member. -v

2. A centrifugal machineihaving, in comwardlyy and outwardly.

f l.,l v y *1,025,485

upwardly and outwardly-inclined bottom and with transferring membersadjacent its periphery, said members having surfaces against Whichthematerial in the basketisheld by centrifugal force when the basket isrotated, said surfaces being movable, while the basket rotates, inadirection transverse to thedirect-ion of said rotation, so as totransfer the contents of the basket from' the bottom the-rect` toa pointof delivery ati'the periphery, and mechanism for rotating the basket andfor controlling` the'movement of the transferring members.

3. In a centrifugal machine, a rotary basket provided with .an annularseries of bination,ja basket rotatable, as afwhole,

about a vertical axis and provided witha plu ralityof foraminlferousdrums independently rotatable about horizontal axes and.-

Wit-h a bottom terminating" adjacentthe drums and substantially abovethe 'bottoms thereof, and means for rotating the basket aboutitsvertic'al axis and for rotatingthe drums about their said axes in a.direction to cause their inner. portions to move up-V wardly andoutwardly.

6. AV 'centrifugal machine having, Ain combination, a basket rotatable,as a whole, about a vertical axis and providedwith a plurality offoraminiferous drums independently ro-` tat-able about horizontal aries'and with an' outwardlyand upwardlynciined bottom terminating adjacentthe drums' and f sub stantially above the bottoms thercohuand meansffor'rotatingr the basket aboutits vertical -z Xis and forrotating the drumsabout theirsaid axesin a direction'to cause their inner portionstomoveupwardiy and outwardly* 7. A centrifugal machine having, in com-.bination, a basket rotatable, as a Whole,

about avertica'l axis and provided with .a

plurality of foraminiferous drums independently rotatable'abouthorizontal axes and with an outwardlyand upwardly-inclmcd fora mm1ferons. bottom terminating' adiacentto" cause their inner `portions lomore upi rau 8. A centrifugal machine having, in com- /bination, abasket rotatable, as a whole,

about a vertical axis and'pr'ovided with a plurality of drums journaledto rotate independently about horizontal. axes, each drum comprisingparallel bars separated by minute passages, and means for rotating thebasket about its vertical axis and for rotatingthe drums about theirhorizontal axes.

9. A centrifugal machine having, in com?"` bination, a basket providedwith a plurality of rotatable drums, eachdrum comprising. parallel barswith 'minute passages betweenH Vadjacent bars and the adjacent outerangles..l of the bars being cut away to form parallel.' grooves in theouter surface of the 'drum,

and means for rotating theflb'sketgas a whole, and for independentlyotating the I at the outer surf:-

l about their'akes Y 'soy drums about their axes,-

10. A centrifugal viii'ichine having, in combination a basket proyided:with a plurality of drums, each -driunl'comprising parallel bars'ofprismati placed close together e 'ff-thedrum sov as to form minutepassages between the bars, and means for-rotating thebasket, as a whole,and for independentl rotating the drums 11. A centrifugal machinehaving, in combinationga basketlrotatable, as a whole, about a verticalaxisfrd' provided 'with 'a plu lses 4be discharged centiifugally throughand rality of foraminferousdrums rotatable independently about theiraxes so as to transy fer solid material from a point-within the basketto a point of centrifugal discharge,

veach drumbeing provided, within itself, with meansA for deilectingliquid passing to the interior orf the drum, to cause such liquid to'from the 'the drum at a different level from .the `point of dischargeof the solid material, 4

means for separately receivin and collecting thesolid and liquidmaterial discharged Erisingparallel barswith minute passages @tween themvfor liquid, the barshaving 1nl ner inclined deflect-ing surfacesarranged to direct liquid enteringthe drum through said passages to apoint elow said oint of oentrifuga-l discharge for the so id material,

whereby the liquid is discharged oentrifu gally in a reverse directionthrough said passages at a lower level, stationary means for separatelyreceiving and collectin the solid materialand the liquid discharge fromthe basket, and. means for rotating the basket about its vertical axisand for indelpeden`,tljy'.

rotating the drums about theirA axes. i

13. Acentrifugal machine having, in

bination, a basket rotatable, asl a. wh about a vertical' axis androvidedlwi! plurality' of foraminiferous' ruins indeped ently zrotatableabout horizontal axesfth, drums rotati'n in a directionto transfer;

solid materialA fom a oint withinthe tota point ofceritri uga'ldischaigpat the tops of theidrum's while the liquid separated from thesolid material passes to the interior of the drums throughtheirforaminiferous surfaces, and a ard located within-1each drum andadapte -todeflect' suchliqui'df to a pointat a lower levelthanz thepointof dis-,

charge of the solid materiahso as tov permit the liquid to pass again,ina reverse direction, through the foralniniferous surface tof theexterior of thedruin' and tobe discharged thence centrifngally' at a`lower level-than the point of discharge'of thefslid material, stationarymeans for separately receivin' 4and collecting the solid material andthequid discharged from the basket, andmeans for rotating the basket, asa whole, about its vertical axis and for independently rotating thedrums about their horizontalaxes.

' 14. A centrifugal machine having, in coml bination, a basketrotatable', as a whole,`

about a vertical axis, thebasket having a plurality of forarniniferousdrums-inde'pend-z ently rotatable about horizontal axes, .and a' bottomcomprising substantially radial bars placed close together with minuteinterstices between, the bars, and means for rotating the basket aboutits vertical axis and for rotat ing the drumsabout their horizontalaxes.

, 15. A centrifugal machine having, in com'- bination, a basketrotatable, as a. whole, about-a vertical axis,.the basket having a.

pluralityof foraminiferous drums independoutwardlyandupwardly-inclined..

11o ently rotatable about horizontal axes, ri-,ane

terminating adjacent the drums and-.corniprising substantiallyradialbars placed closel togetherl with minute interstices between thebars, and means for rotating the basket about its verticallaxis and forrotating the drums about their horizontal axes. I

v ARTHUR R. SELDEN.

Witnesses: y

' D. Gomme,

' L. THON.'

iis

